Keynes Building / Housing

Amsterdam

More information

Keynes Building / Housing

Amsterdam

More information

Usually, the transformation of a building is the step following the end of its initial lifecycle. However, in the beginning of 2017, OZ was asked to investigate the possibilities of transforming the Keynes building from office to residential use. Even though the building is merely 11 years old.

As starting point of the design we reuse as much of the building as possible. Façades are only changed where necessary. In order to compact the area and make maximum use of the building’s structural capacity, two floors are added on top of the building. Additionally, the existing floors are raised and used to prevent interventions in the buildings installation structure as much as possible and filled with extra insulation.

The architectural premise of the building, continuous floor edges and recessed glass, is reinforced in the new design by adding balconies around the building. The balconies are large and light, made of steel and wood. As a result, the building immediately acquires a more informal character that is part of the transformation into a residential building.